For the third time in the past five weeks, the PGA Tour is in Texas playing at the TPC San Antonio AT&T Oaks Course for the Valero Texas Open. As players continue to trickle back from their Masters hangovers, they are tested on a Greg Norman (with consultation from Sergio Garcia) course, designed with the fan in mind. It directly reflects the PGA Tour’s departure from the modern tournament-style course (expansive grass areas and spectator mounding) to a more natural look and feel (if you can forget you’re in Texas) without sacrificing the fan experience, making it very tournament friendly.

Opened in 2010, The Oaks “winds through Texas Hill Country featuring narrow fairways, bunkers as deep as 12 feet and native vegetation where unplayable lies loom.” Some may recall that five years ago Kevin Na recorded a 16 at the par-4 ninth hole after struggling to free himself from rocks and underbrush.

Downhill holes play into the prevailing wind, uphill holes play downwind

And if you like fun facts, the course tournament record is 63, achieved by Matt Every (1st round, 2012) and Martin Laird (4th round, 2013).

Holes to Watch

Hole 4

The most difficult par 4 on the front nine, this 481-yard brute requires a precise and long tee shot into the most narrow fairway on the course. Once in the fairway, the player takes aim at a picturesque green surrounded by mature gnarly oaks trees along with artistic bunkers featuring a rock outcropping along the back edge.

Hole 15

Another long-ish par 4, at 464 yards players again need a well-aimed drive to avoid a fairway bunker on the right side to ensure a mid to short iron into the green. The smallish green is protected by some of the most artistically designed bunkers on the course. The cross bunker some 40 yards short of the green makes the green appear closer than it actually is.

Hole 16

A cross between the 16th at TPC Scottsdale and the Riviera’s sixth, this relatively short par 3 is certainly eye-catching. The green is well defined by beautiful bunkers on both sides, with the added touch of a bunker in the center, which divides the green into three smaller targets. An assortment of teeing areas offers the player not only different yardages but different angles onto the green. Spectators get a great view with stadium seating around the green.

SUBSCRIBE AND WIN PEAKVISION SUNGLASSES!

New subscribers to our weekly email newsletter from October 15 through December 15 will be entered to win a pair of PeakVision sunglasses of their choice! PeakVision's Dual Zone technology prevents glare while offering unparalleled clarity that's perfect for golfers. The patented PeakVision lens enhances the golfer's ability to see the contours of the greens better with high-definition amber lens which provide three times the definition than the naked eye, and we want you to experience the difference for yourself.(Rules and regulations)

Email Address

About the author

Ethan Zimman

Ethan Zimman is a proposal writer for a large federal government contractor by day and freelance writer by night. He's an avid golfer who started playing at age 13 and keeps trying to chip away at his 8.6 handicap index. His passion for golf course architecture began after reading Tom Doak's 'The Anatomy of a Golf Course' in high school. In his (non-golf-related) spare time, he loves visiting wineries and breweries with his wife, son, and their goldendoodle Bodie.

GNN Links

New subscribers to our weekly email newsletter from October 15 through December 15 will be entered to win a pair of PeakVision sunglasses of their choice!

Rules and regulations: By submitting your email address, you agree to join both the Golf News Net and PeakVision email lists. To be eligible for our prizes, you must remain a subscriber on our list through the end of the contest month.